making news in america this morning -- travel troubles on this christmas eve. >> millions of travelers are facing delays, and headaches. little time left to get your christmas shopping done, that is. a necessary si for some. way of life for others. the deals are out there waiting. also this morning, the national rifle association is standing firm behind its call for armed guards in every american school. and a stunning decision involving a long-time employee and her boss. she was fired. wait until you hear who is saying it was the right thing to do.

and good morning, everybody. happy christmas eve. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm brandi hitt sitting in for paula faris today. >> last minute shoppers in most of the country will have tranquil weather today with a notable exception. we begin with john schriffen. >> reporter: it's the christmas trip turned travel nightmare for drivers on the east and west coast. in northern california, with more snow expected to blanket the mountains, cars are having trouble staying on the roads. >> there's a lot of spinouts. the roads are pretty bad. there's definitely going to be chain control for the nest two days at least going into christmas. >> reporter: with warmer temperatures in the bay area, the pounding rain is the hazard. this accident happened after one driver going foo fast skidded across five lanes crashing into the other. no one was hurt. >> people are still driving

fast. you have to watch out for them and try to slow down a little bit and anticipate the worst of what over people may do when they hit puddles or something. >> reporter: in syracuse, new york, plows are working overtime. this car stuck with no place to go. >> the weather was bad. the winds were bad. blowing the cars around. you could see the semis were swerving. >> reporter: it's the city's first snowstorm of the season. many are bracing for more to come. john schriffen, abc news, new york. >> all right, thanks, john. one area of severe weather to keep an eye on. accuweather meteorologist andrew baglini has the latest. >> we're tracking a disturbance that will give us bad weather. eastern texas around the houston area, thunderstorms will pop up. that spreads eastward throughout

christmas tuesday. interstates 10 and 20, large hail, damaging wind gusts, the threat for tornado. a destructive storm system on this tuesday. the highest threat for tornadoes around new orleans, mobile, interstate 10 northward into the panhandle of florida. good snow across portions of the plains. >> i hate to see rough weather this time of the year. let's look at weather from across the country. last-minute shoppers in boston and chicago could s light know. also early showers and clearing in l.a. rain in louisville and cincinnati. >> fargo, barely makes it above zero. honolulu and miami, the hot spots, near 80. seattle and portland, the 40s. a senator from idaho

apologizing today after being arrested for driving drunk. mike crapo was pulled over after running a red light yesterday. he failed several sobriety tests. he was taken to jail and released on bond. he's expected to be in court in january. he says he takes total responsibility. overseas to afghanistan. the death of 42-year-old job price is being investigated as suicide. he died of a gunshot wound. he was a member of s.e.a.l. team 4, a special navy warfare unit. only one week to go now and there is still no deal preventing the economy from going over that now infam mouse fiscal cliff. members of congress are still pointing firngs over who is to blame for the lack of progress. meanwhile, connecticut's independent senator, joe lieberman expects congress to

work right up until the new year's eve deadline. he's not sure that will be enough. >> it's first time i'm more likely that we'll go over the cliff than not. if we allow that to happen, it will be the most colossal consequential act of congressional irresponsibility in a long time. >> the president and congress are on short holiday breaks. they're due back later in the week. one possibility in all of this mess is a partial deal on taxes while putting off agreement on spending until some time down the road. former president george h.w. bush may be spending thanksgiving in the hospital. he's been there since thanksgiving. he's battling bronchitis and a lingering cough. south africans are sending warm wishes to former president nelson mandela. he's been in the hospital f two

weeks with a lung infection. he's said to be in no imminent danger. he's 94 years old. and margaret thatcher is recuperating in the hospital. she's 87 years old and has faced a number of health dmajs the past decade. we wish all of those leaders well. >> a speedy recovery. still ahead this morning, if you didn't know, it's national eggnog day. rob is happy. of course appropriate for christmas eve. and for the pro contrast narts among us, a last-second trip to the mall. it might be worth your while. and the criticism against the nra. heated debate over guns is ahead.

welcome back. well, so far, it's been a quiet holiday season at the malls. analysts say shoppers are worried about the budget stalemate in washington or they're delayed by superstorm sandy or depressed by the connecticut school shootings. >> as we hear from nick watt, the holiday shopping season is not over yet. >> reporter: we have just entered the final frantic hours of gift buying. you look stressed. >> i have a little anxiety. i'm not going the lie. i'm tripping out. >> reporter: there are crumbs of comfort. the sign says the delayed gifts might be the best. number one, frugality i vap rates. you throw money at the problem. number two, you make a gut instinct decision. >> you want to buy a sweater for

your wife. if you think about it too much, you may outthink yourself and not make a good choice. >> reporter: you to feel you perform better under pressure? >> absolutely. you have to make a good decision. you have to make a decision. >> reporter: stores stay open for the last-minute larrys. target until 10:00 p.m. walgreen's is open christmas day. another advantage of last minute is the sales have already begun. the late bird can catch the best worm. nick watt, abc news, los angeles. >> happy shopping, everybody. some shoppers may have been waiting for the sales to begin. others may be proe contrast narts like many of us. "consumer reports" says 17 million people will shop today. more than 60% will slow in the towel and buy gift cards. that's my plan.

many federal workers have more time to shop. the president gave them the day off. the financial markets are closing early, as are most post offices. express mail packages will be delivered on christmas day. also in the mail this week, the final print edition of "newsweek" magazine. they become digital-only in the new year. the final cover is an old photo of the manhattan office building of "newsweek." and fantasy beats gritty realism. "the hobbit" was first for the second straight weekend. the movie took in $37 million, more than double any other movie. the tom cruise action thriller, "jack reemp" was second. and the come by, "this is 40"

opened in third. when we come back, stunning words from mitt romney's son about whether his dad ever really wanted to be president. also, throwing it all way. a misplaced pass leads to playoff hopes dashed. stay with us. like a lot of things, trying to find a better job can be frustrating. so at university of phoenix we're working with a growing list of almost two thousand corporate partners -

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♪ ♪ do a dollop, do, do a dollop of daisy ♪ some pretty heavy snow is making it a great holiday week for skiers around lake tahoe. drivers, not so much. some resorts got up to three feet over the weekend with another foot or two expected overnight. it goes without saying, they'll be enjoying a white christmas there on the slopes. >> wow. now for a look at the morning road conditions out there. slippery and louisville and cincinnati with morning rain. light snow in boston, chicago, detroit, and cleveland. if you're flying today,

airport delays possible in los angeles, denver, new orleans, atlanta, and here in new york city. now to the gun control debate. the nra is refruzing to back down from its call for armed officers in our schools. >> connecticut congressman chris murphy, whose district includes newtown, calls the idea toen deaf and revolting. >> reporter: the nra stuck by its guns, that every american school should have an armed guard. >> if it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our school to protect our children, then call me crazy. >> the n rarks has blood on its hands. >> reporter: amid protesters and refusing to take questions, the head of the nra announced this plan. >> when they horrible monster tried to shoot his way into sandy hook school, that if a good guy with a gun had been there, he might have been able

to stop him. >> reporter: the murder massacre in newtown has led for some nra supporters to call for control of some guns and clips. >> then you saying that the gun control debate shouldn't be part of this at all? >> sure, i mean, congress will beba debate this. i don't think it's part of the ultimate solution. >> reporter: one district in new jersey will place armed guards in schools, to the disapproval of the governor. >> you don't want to make this an armed camp for kids. i don't think that's a positive example. >> reporter: the majority of americans favor more restrictions on gun ownership. that may be the reason other gun owners are flocking to gun stores. >> we have never seen anything like this. we have christmas business, the hunting season business, and now the political business. >> reporter: la pierre was pressed time and again on

whether he would agree to one change in gun laws. he refruzed to answer or chanled the subject. he said the gun is a tool, the problem are criminals. david kerley, abc news, washington. in other news this morning, a veteran of capitol hill was laid to rest in his home state of hawaii. in attendance was president obama. a 19-cannon salute was fired at senator daniel inouye's funeral. he died laths week at the age of 88. new insight into mitt romney's failed presidential run. tagg romney says his dad never wanted the top job. he wanted to be president less than anyone i have met in my life, says tagg. he said his father is a very

private person who simply does not like attention. >> interesting field to get into if you don't like attention. out in space, a unique holiday show going on. jupiter and the moon will be in con vux in the evening. they're already close together in the sky and bright enough to be visible around the world, even if you're in a big city. >> with a home telescope you can see the moons, the mountains, the krarts. with the naked eye, you'll be able to see the show. enjoy a little, you know, christmas -- a different kind of christmas gift. time for sot highlights from week 16 of the nfl. we get them from espn. cassidy hubbarth with your espn update. the steelers trying to stay in the playoff hunt.

24 seconds left in the game. ben roet, picked off by reggie nelson. he returns it to the slrs 46. the bengals regain possession. next play, 14 seconds left. andy dalton. hits a.j. green along the sidelines for gain of 21. ten catches for 116 yards for green. josh brown hits the 43-yarder for the win. and the bengals punch the ticket to the playoffs. the loss eliminates the steelers. colts looking to clinch a bayoff berth. indy up, 10-3. the andrew luck pass breaks cam newton's rookie passing record. leading the colts to a field goal. the chiefs stuck around, thanks to this man, jamaal charles. his third 80-yard td of the

season. in the fourth quarter, we're tied up at 13-13. third and goal. and luck -- finds reggie wayne in the back of the end zone. luck with his seventh game-winning drive this season as the colts win, 20-13. i'm cassidy hubbarth with your sportscenter upday. have great day. up next, "the pulse." some say the case from iowa turns women's rights back decades. and we all know this guy, psy. now a historymaker. "the pulse" is coming up next. ♪ gangnam style "this is george. he is a good little monkey and always very curious. one day george got an important letter.

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♪ here comes santa claus here comes santa claus right down santa claus lane ♪ time to check "the pulse." don't mind if we do. not only is today christmas eve. it's national -- boom -- eggnog day. >> it's a little messy. sorry i'm getting that all over the place. >> still cold and delicious. salute, everybody. >> made from milk, spices, sugar and -- if you're making your own, there are unpasteurized eggs. >> before pasteurization, brandy or rum was add.

nobody spikes it. >> this is good. now a simply stunning case from iowa. get this. >> it centers on a woman, 32 years old, mother of two. worked in a dentist office for ten years. she was fired because her boss said she was too tempting and a threat to his marriage. >> on friday, iowa's all male supreme court unanimously agreed with knight saying he was just fied because he saw nelson as quote, an irresistible attraction. wow. and finally, gangnam style making youtube history. the video of the year is the first ever youtube video to be viewed 1 billion times. billion with a "b." >> it was posted back in july. been viewed between 7 million and 10 million times every day. >> one reason for the success, a huge number of gangnam style versions posted on youtube as

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updating the top stories now. plenty of snowy roads across the country to do b delt with on christmas eve. from higher elevations out west to upstate new york, millions of people are slow going. millions of folks are not finished shopping. they'll be hitting the stores and websites today. 60% of them will buy gift cards. idaho senator mike crapo apologizing for a weekend dui arrest. rain further inland. fargo barely getting above zero. early showers in los angeles and after that, lit clear out. and finally this christmas eve morning, let's assume no one doing last-minute shopping today is going to be buying gifts

you're about to see. >> dan harris shows us unique and expensive offers out there. he got the try out one of them. >> reporter: it's called simply enough, the christmas book. an annual catalog put how by neiman marcus. you can find fantasy gifts like a $50,000 personal blimp, a flying car at the bargain price of $3.5 million. >> it's fun to go through and say, i'd love though have this, i'd love to have that. ♪ it's the hard knock life for us it's the hard knock life for us ♪ >> reporter: this year, you can buy a walk-on role in the broadway edition of "annie." a sports car. or this. real-life jet back, at a price of roughly $100,000, it can take you 30 feet in the air at 30 miles an hour. this guy can do twists, turns, barrel rolls and dive bombs. when i tried it, i inched along

about five feet above water. for the more risk averse people, there's a $100,000 hen house. this looks like the french poodle of hens. it is fitted with a living room and a boudoir, all modeled on the palace of versailles. is something like this wasted on the chickens? is there any evidence they will lay better eggs? >> no, but you, as the faerm, will be inspired. >> reporter: they lay colored eggs. green and red. i tried one. it's really good. it's really good. i would pay $10,000 for that egg. stay with us for "good morning america." have great monday.